LAPD officer accused of skydiving while on disability leave in high-flying fraud case

[Zorro]

A Los Angeles police officer who said he was too injured to complete any work was not too injured to jump out of airplanes, prosecutors allege.

Christopher Brandon Carnahan, 43, of Norwalk has been charged with two counts of felony insurance fraud after going skydiving multiple times in Lake Elsinore and working out at a fitness center while also collecting disability benefits by exaggerating an on-duty work injury, according to the L.A. County district attorney’s office.

Carnahan claimed that he injured his left elbow while at work in May 2023 and was subsequently placed on total temporary disability status, prosecutors said. Police officers with this status are entitled to receive 100% of their base salary tax-free for up to a year and then two-thirds afterward if the injury persists.

He was arrested Wednesday and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. His arraignment will be scheduled at a later date, prosecutors said.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-26/la-police-officer-accused-of-skydiving-while-on-disability

[walkingman]

1. Hate to say it but "disability" is a very big issue, at least where I live. I know a lot of people

that retired and used disability to boost their earnings. They file, are denied, make a couple of doctor visits, then get approved, get back pay, and their earnings are increased forever. They are no more disabled than I am - mostly age related issues.

I hate this because it is just another example of people taking advantage of a good government program was designed to help those in real need but taken advantage of because they could.

[marble falls]

2. A cop can beat a murder rap by claiming fear of death and seeing a weapon. But if he dips into ...

... cash that's not his: he's going down. Crazy.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Can't steal from rich people (in this case the city's disability insurance carrier)

I used to know a guy who traveled around the country busting frauds like this. He had all the gear - including cameras in gym bags (seems quaint now with all the miniaturization) he would use to bust people working out.